Nebulized sildenafil is a selective pulmonary vasodilator that can potentiate the pulmonary vasodilating effects of inhaled NO.

Detrimental consequences of hypofibrinolysis, also known as fibrinolysis shutdown (FS), have recently arisen, and its significance in liver transplantation (LT) remains unknown. To fill this gap, this retrospective study included 166 adults who received transplants between 2016 and 2018 for whom baseline thromboelastography was available. On the basis of percent of clot lysis 30 minutes after maximal amplitude, patients were stratified into 3 fibrinolysis phenotypes: FS, physiologic fibrinolysis, and hyperfibrinolysis. FS occurred in 71.7% of recipients, followed by physiologic fibrinolysis in 19.9% and hyperfibrinolysis in 8.4%. Intraoperative and postoperative venous thrombosis events occurred exclusively in recipients with the FS phenotype. Intraoperative thrombosis occurred with an overall incidence of 4.8% and was associated with 25.0% in-hospital mortality. Incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis within the first month was deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (PE; 4.8%) and portal vein thrombosis/ hepatic vein thrombosis (1.8%). Massive transfusion of ≥20 units packed red blood cells was required in 11.8% of recipients with FS compared with none in the other 2 phenotype groups (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified 2 pretransplant risk factors for FS: platelet count and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis/cryptogenic cirrhosis. Recursive partitioning identified a critical platelet cutoff value of 50 × 10 9 /L to be associated with FS phenotype. The hyperfibrinolysis phenotype was associated with the lowest 1-year survival (85.7%), followed by FS (95.0%) and physiologic fibrinolysis (97.0%). Infection/multisystem organ failure was the predominant cause of death; in the FS group, 1 patient died of exsanguination, and 1 patient died of massive intraoperative PE. In conclusion, there is a strong association between FS and thrombohemorrhagic complications and poorer outcomes after LT. Liver Transplantation 25 380-387 2019 AASLD.

Abdominal tumors involving both roots of the celiac and superior mesenteric artery are deemed unresectable by conventional surgical methods. We performed three cases of multivisceral ex vivo surgery involving temporary removal of the entire abdominal viscera followed by vascular reconstruction, ex vivo tumor resection and autotransplantation of excised organs. We achieved a complete tumor resection with negative margins in all cases. All patients have survived with no tumor recurrence to date at 17-, 27-and 38-month follow-up. Postoperative complications included diarrhea, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and arterial stenosis; all responded to directed treatments. Multivisceral ex vivo surgery applying techniques of deceased donor multivisceral transplantation is feasible in achieving local control of otherwise unresectable abdominal tumors. This surgery is best suitable for locally invasive tumors unresectable because of location and vascular involvement. Key words: Autotransplantation, multivisceral transplantAbbreviations: IRB, Institutional Review Board; SMA, superior mesenteric artery; SMV, superior mesenteric vein. Received 13 June 2011, revised 28 November 2011 and accepted for publication 29 November 2011We report three cases of novel multivisceral ex vivo surgery. Previous ex vivo surgeries were performed on single organs (kidney, liver or intestine) with autotransplantation of the particular organ (1,4,5,7). Intestinal ex vivo surgery is indicated when tumor only involves the root of the mesentery sparing the hepatic and celiac artery. In this series, we report cases of temporary removal of entire abdominal viscera to remove extensive tumor that involves both celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). We describe the technical, clinical and oncological feasibility of the procedure. Multidisciplinary Team Discussion, Informed Consent and Institutional Review Board ReviewEach case was thoroughly reviewed by a multidisciplinary team that considered the extent of disease, metastatic potential of the tumor and the estimated survival without surgery. Evaluation included imaging studies to rule out extraabdominal disease spread, oncologic review of prior treatment, cardiopulmonary risk assessment, nutritional and performance status and psychosocial assessment. Alternative surgical approaches were discussed including multivisceral allotransplant, and conventional resection with positive margins followed by adjuvant medical intervention. After considering short-and long-term risks and benefits of the procedure, we concluded that multivisceral ex vivo surgery was a reasonable option. All three patients (or their families) were provided the details of the above discussion, the risks and potential benefits of the procedure and alternative approaches. Written informed consent for the procedure was obtained from the patient (or guardian). Written permission was also obtained for the publication of this report. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Columbia University Medical Center reviewed the pati...

Pancreas transplant achieves consistent long-term euglycemia in type 1 diabetes.Allograft thrombosis (AT) causes the majority of early graft failure. We compared outcomes of four anticoagulation regimens administered to 95 simultaneous kidney-pancreas or isolated pancreas transplanted between 1/1/2015 and 11/20/2018. Early postoperative anticoagulation regimens included the following: none, subcutaneous heparin/aspirin, with or without dextran, and heparin infusion. The regimens were empirically selected based on each surgeon's assessment of hemostasis of the operative field and personal preference. A sonographic-based global scoring system of AT is presented. The 47-month recipients and graft survival were 95% and 86%, respectively. Recipients with or without AT had similar survival. Five and four grafts were lost due to death and AT, respectively. Outcomes of prophylaxis regimens correlated with intensity of anticoagulation. Compared with no anticoagulation, an increase in hemorrhagic complications occurred exclusively with iv heparin. The higher arterial AT score found in regimens lacking antiplatelet therapy highlights the importance of early antiaggregants therapy. Abnormal fibrinolysis was associated with an increase in AT score. Platelet dysfunction, warm ischemia time, and enteric drainage were predictive of AT and, along with other known risk factors, were incorporated into an algorithm that matches intensity of early postoperative anticoagulation to the thrombotic risk.

This study describes the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications, both intraoperatively, and up to 1 month following visceral transplantation. Data from 48 adult visceral transplants performed between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively studied [32 multivisceral (MVTx); 10 isolated intestine; six modified-MVTx]. Intraoperatively, intracardiac thrombosis (ICT)/pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in 25%, 0% and 0% of MVTx, isolated intestine and modified MVTx, respectively, and was associated with 50% (4/8) mortality. Preoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) was a significant risk factor for ICT/PE (P = 0.0073). Thromboelastography resembling disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (r time <4 mm combined with fibrinolysis or flat-line) was statistically associated with occurrence of ICT/PE (P < 0.0001). Compared to subgroup without ICT/PE, occurrence of ICT/PE was associated with an increased demand for all blood product components both overall, and each surgical stage. Hyperfibrinolysis (56%) was identified as cause of bleeding in MVTx. Incidence of postoperative thrombotic event at 1 month was 25%, 30% and 17% for MVTx, isolated intestine and modified MVTx, respectively. Incidence of postoperative bleeding complications at 1 month was 11%, 20% and 17% for MVTx, isolated intestine and modified MVTx. In conclusion, MVTx recipients with preoperative PVT are at an increased risk of developing intraoperative life-threatening ICT/PE events associated with DIC-like coagulopathy.

BackgroundFrailty is rampant in candidates of liver transplantation (LT); however, its impact on posttransplant survival is inconclusive. Most studies have used a single measure of frailty; however, a comprehensive frailty severity index (FSI) has not been developed. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate frailty utilizing several metrics, (2) develop an FSI for end‐stage liver disease (ESLD), and (3) determine its predictive abilities for outcomes after LT.MethodsFrailty metrics included (1) modified nutrition assessment of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition that includes height‐adjusted third lumbar vertebra psoas mass index, (2) physical performance assessment combining Karnofsky Performance Status and pressure injury scale, and (3) Controlling Nutritional Status as a measure of severity of liver disease and inflammation.ResultsModerate to severe frailty was reported in 52%–97% of recipients depending on the metric. A statistically significant threshold FSI value was identified for each adverse outcome studied. FSI ≥ 14 was associated with decreased survival (88% vs 97% for FSI < 14).ConclusionsThe proposed FSI for ESLD is predictive of poorer outcomes after LT.

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